Up-to-the minute updates and insights from the Red Wings locker room at home and on the road. By Chuck Pleiness of The Macomb Daily.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Griffins add Rissmiller

The Grand Rapids Griffins have added another forward from another organization. One day after getting Michael Nylander from the Capitals on a two-week conditioning stint, the Griffins have added Patrick Rissmiller from the Rangers organization.

Neither forward is part of the Red Wings organization.

Rissmiller's assigment to GR is different than Nylander's in that Rissmiller could remain with the Griffins all season. The 30-year-old's pro career includes 182 NHL games and 354 AHL games. Last season, Rismiller played in 2 games with the Rangers and 64 with Hartford.

The Griffins are off to a slow start this season and with their home opener Friday, it's good for them to bolster their roster. But is this a bad sign for the Wings' system depth?

Here's the Griffins' press release ...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday acquired left wing Patrick Rissmiller (RIHS-mihl-uhr) on reassignment by the New York Rangers from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.

Rissmiller, 30, has appeared in 182 NHL games with the Rangers and San Jose since 2003, totaling 45 points (18-27—45) and 60 penalty minutes. After playing two full seasons (2006-08) with the Sharks, racking up 15 goals and 39 points in 158 games, he signed with New York in July 2008 and spent the majority of the 2008-09 campaign in Hartford, contributing an AHL career-high 54 points (14-40—54) in 64 games while also going scoreless in two contests with the Rangers.

The 6-4, 215-pound Rissmiller, who notched two assists in six games with the Wolf Pack this season, has skated in 354 games with Hartford and Cleveland during his AHL career, contributing 237 points (78-159—237) and 202 PIM.

“Patrick’s a player that we’ve known pretty well over the years from being in Cleveland,” said Griffins general manager Bob McNamara. “We like his size, he can play center and wing, and he’s put up good numbers in the AHL. We think he’ll be a good fit for us.”

Rissmiller will practice with the Griffins at 10 a.m. Friday and be available to play at 7 p.m. when they host their home opener against the Abbotsford Heat.